Hybrid ring welded cylinder head gasket

ABSTRACT

A cylinder head gasket with a single layer carrier member, a sealing ring for sealing around the cylinder opening, and at least one protection layer. The sealing ring has a plurality of functional layers. A protection layer is positioned on at least one side of the sealing ring, and preferably on both sides. The sealing ring and protection layers are fixedly secured to the carrier member by welding.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to cylinder head gaskets, particularlyhigh performance gaskets which are less expensive.

BACKGROUND

Cylinder head gaskets are in common use today, particularly for dieselengines for heavy duty vehicles, such as trucks. Diesel engines createsignificant pressures in the cylinders and require robust sealingsystems to prevent leakage and gasket failures. Gasket failures caninclude, for example, compression losses and exhaust gases being forcedinto the cooling system, leading to engine overheating and engine wear.

Several known cylinder head gaskets seal and operate satisfactorily butare too expensive for some vehicles, engines or programs. These gasketsinclude a three layer carrier with a cylinder ring sealing member andelastomeric sealing members positioned around the openings for thecoolant passages, push rods and oil passages. The three full layers forthe carrier include a cold rolled steel layer and two layers ofstainless steel.

There is a need for a cylinder head gasket which operates and performsas well as current gaskets, but which is less expensive. Thus, an objectof the present invention is to provide a gasket to fulfill that need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a one layercarrier which is made from a single plate, and a multi-layer sealingring which mates with the carrier to seal the cylinder opening. Thesealing ring includes annular rings of two or three functional layers ofsealing members which are positioned around the cylinder opening in thecarrier. Two protection layers are positioned on the sealing ring, oneon each side, and secure the sealing ring to the carrier. Tabs on theprotection layers which protrude radially outwardly of the functionallayers are spot welded together through openings in the sealing ringlayers. This secures all of the components together completing theunique cylinder head gasket.

Elastomeric sealing beads are also formed by molding on the carrier toseal the openings for passage of coolant and oil, and for positioning ofthe valve push rods. The sealing beads are formed to extend transverselyfrom both sides of the carrier, as well as radially into the openings.

Other functions and benefits of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description of embodiment of the invention when viewed inaccordance with the attached drawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome more readily appreciated when considered in connection with thefollowing detailed description and appending drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cylinder head gasket in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a cylinder head gasket in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a carrier member for use as a componentin the gasket as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a sealing ring member for use as acomponent in the gasket as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a protection layer for use as acomponent in the gasket as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cylinder head gasketinvention is depicted in FIG. 1. An elevational view of that embodimentis shown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are separate elevational views of the main componentsof the cylinder head gasket, namely the carrier member 27, thefunctional annular sealing ring 24, and one of the annular protectionlayer members 26, respectively. FIGS. 6-10 are cross-sectional viewstaken along lines A-A, B-B, C-C, D-D, and E-E, respectively, in FIG. 2.

The carrier member 22 is a single plate layer of a cold rolled steelmaterial. The carrier member has a plurality of openings formed in it,such as cylinder openings 30 for the piston member, coolant openings 32,34, 36, 38 and 40 for coolant to pass through during passage through theengine, openings 42 and 44 to allow movement of the engine push rods,and opening 46 for passage of high pressure oil.

It is to be understood that the shape, structure and number and functionof openings of the gasket member 20 shown in the drawings is exemplary.The gasket can have a wide variety of sizes, shapes and openings to fitdifferent engines. As well known, the cylinder head gasket is mountedbetween the engine block and engine manifold in an engine and itspurpose is to seal the joint between these two structures and preventleakage of the combustion gases and materials, such as the enginecoolant and the engine oils, between them. Most cylinder head gasketsinclude openings, for example, for engine coolant, push rods and engineoil, although the openings could have different functions, locations andsizes than the openings in the embodiment shown in the drawings. Inaddition, alternate embodiments of a cylinder head gasket could have asufficient size and extended configuration to seal around two, three ormore cylinders at the same time. With such an embodiment, the carriermember would have a series of structures like the one shown in FIG. 2positioned side by side and integrally formed as a one piece stamping.

The sealing ring 24 has a circular annular shape and when mated with thecarrier member, is positioned in the central cylinder opening 30. Thesealing ring has a plurality of layers. In the embodiment shown in thedrawings, the ring 24 has three layers which are called “functional”layers 50. The three functional layers are preferably made of astainless steel material.

In other embodiments of the invention, the annular sealing ring can havea different number of layers, such as, for example, one, two, four,five, etc. The number of layers included depends on a number of factors,such as, for example, the size and type of engine and the pressures andheat caused by the fuel combustion in the cylinder.

The protection layers 26 are made of a stainless steel material and arepositioned on both sides of the sealing ring.

A cross-sectional view of the sealing ring member 24 and protectionlayer 26 are shown in FIG. 6. This cross-section is taken along line A-Ain FIG. 2. As depicted, the annular body of the layers of the sealingring 24 is positioned inside the cylinder opening 30 and in planaralignment with the plane of the carrier member.

The sealing ring layers also have a plurality of tab members 60positioned around their periphery. The tab members have openings 62therein and when the sealing ring is positioned in the opening 30 in thecarrier member 22, the tab members mate with recesses 64 in the carriermember. See FIG. 3.

After the sealing ring is properly positioned in the opening 30 in thecarrier member 22, a protection ring layer 26 is positioned on each sideof the sealing ring member 24 to form the gasket structure 20 as shownin FIG. 2. Each of the protection ring members 26 has a plurality of tabmembers 70 on the periphery thereon, as shown in FIG. 5. These tabmembers are also located and positioned in recesses 64 in the carriermember 27 when the gasket is assembled.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views taken along lines B-B and C-C,respectively, in FIG. 2. FIG. 7 depicts the positioning of the tabmembers 60 and 70 in the recesses 64. As indicated in FIG. 7, the planesof the recesses 64 are physically recessed from the plane of the rest ofthe carrier member 22. This allows the tab members 70 of the protectionlayers 26 to overlap and extend radially outward past the ends of thetab members 60 of the sealing ring.

After the three components 22, 24, 26 are assembled together in themanner shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the protection layers 26 are spot weldedtogether in the openings 62 in the tabs 60 of the sealing ring 24. Thisis shown in FIG. 8 which is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-Cin FIG. 2. Referring back to FIG. 2, there are four spot welds 100 usedin the cylinder head gasket embodiment 22 in order to fix and hold thecomponents together.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, there are five tab members 60and four tab members 70 provided. The number and placement of these tabmembers on the components is exemplary and a different number andplacement of the tab members can be provided. In the same manner, adifferent number and different placement of the corresponding recessesin the carrier member could also be provided. Moreover, the number andplacement of the spot welds will depend on the number and location ofthe tabs and recesses.

The openings 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 and 46 all preferably haveelastomeric sealing materials positioned on them in order to seal theopenings between the engine block and manifold and to prevent leakage.FIGS. 9 and 10 are cross-sections taken along lines D-D and E-E,respectively, in FIG. 2. The sealing members 120 are preferably moldedon the carrier member 22 around each of the openings.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the sealing members 120 form beads ofsealing material that are positioned on the inside edges of the openingsand extend radially inwardly into the opening as well as projecttransversely outwardly on both sides of the carrier member 22. Thesealing members 120 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 are representative of thesealing members positioned around all of the openings 32, 34, 36, 38,40, 42, 44, and 46.

The sealing members 120 provide tight and secure seals around theopenings when the engine block and manifold are assembled together.

Although the invention has been described with respect to preferredembodiments, it is to be also understood that it is not to be so limitedsince changes and modifications can be made therein which are within thefull scope of this invention as detailed by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cylinder head gasket comprising: a one-layercarrier member, said carrier member having a cylinder opening and aplurality of other openings, an annular sealing ring positioned in saidcylinder opening, said sealing ring comprising a plurality of annularfunctional layers and a pair of annular protection layers, one of saidprotection layers positioned on either side of said sealing ring.
 2. Thecylinder head gasket as described in claim 1 further comprising aplurality of recess members in said carrier member positioned around theperiphery of said cylinder openings, and a corresponding plurality offirst tab members positioned on said functional layers, and a pluralityof second tab members positioned on said protection layers, said firstand second tab members being positioned in said recesses.
 3. Thecylinder head gasket as described in claim 2 wherein said first andsecond tab members are securely connected to said recess members.
 4. Thecylinder head gasket as described in claim 3 wherein said tab membersare spot welded together to secure said sealing ring and protectionlayers to said carrier member.
 5. The cylinder head gasket as describedin claim 4 wherein said first tab members have openings therein and saidtab members are spot welded together through said openings.
 6. Thecylinder head gasket as described in claim 1 wherein three functionallayers are provided.
 7. The cylinder head gasket as described in claim 1further comprising a plurality of additional openings in said carriermember, and elastomeric sealing members positioned around each of saidadditional openings.
 8. The cylinder head gasket as described in claim 7wherein said sealing members extend radially inwardly in said openingsand protrude transversely outwardly on both sides of said carriermember.
 9. The cylinder head gasket as described in claim 1 wherein saidannular protection layers are substantially the same size and shape assaid annular sealing ring.